Ventings from a guy with an unhealthy interest in budgets, policy, the dismal science, life in the Upper Midwest, and brilliant beverages.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

This week in Walker Admin hackery

No, I didn't watch a minute of the State-of-the-State last night. Instead I got my quota of swearing in by watching the Badgers fail to play defense for the 3rd straight game and lose by 13 to the friggin' Gophs.

"These are the faces of an improving economy in our state," Walker said Wednesday of Barber and others. "Wisconsin is going back to work."

But there is a reason that Barber -- a resident of Two Rivers -- has had trouble finding steady work in the past.

Records show that he is a registered sex offender with two felonies and three drunken-driving offenses. Because of his checkered past, Barber has been in and out of jail and prison for much of the past decade, with his probation having been revoked at least twice.

But as usual, Bice buries the real story behind the veneer of being a dirt-digger. This is the real story, as revealed below.

Tom Evenson, a spokesman for Walker, said the administration had contacted employers in the state to see if they could recommend workers hired since Walker took office in 2011 who would be interested in being mentioned in the annual speech.....

Ann Stilp, head of corporate communications for Ariens, acknowledged Thursday that the Brillion-based company -- which makes snowblowers and riding mowers -- had suggested Barber.

"We recommended him based on his performance on the job since he has been employed with Ariens Company beginning December of 2012," Stilp said. "As part of recommending him for the speech, we did not know the details of his record."...

Ariens company officials have long been Walker backers.

The governor attended the company's 80th anniversary celebration in the fall, and he has received nearly 40 donations from Ariens employees, even though the total income has been a rather modest $4,625. In 2011, Walker appointed company CEO Dan Ariens to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board, where he is now the vice chairman.

First class indeed. Then again, competence has never exactly been the biggest reason Walker's staffers have gotten hired. After all, this is the same crew that told the Gov, "It's David Koch on line 1!"

See, Bice is under orders from saying this, but I'm not. A prior felon (who's trying to do the right thing) being put on display at the State of the State address is not the big deal. What's significant is that this Administration operates on a pay-for-play basis, with a bunch of dimwits behind the scenes at the Capitol.

I largely agree with you, Fonscy. Me. Barber is doing the right thing, and I have little problem with him. Which is why the Walker Administration leaning on a campaign donor to find someone and not doing the vetting is the real story.

About Me

This cat's a 40-something libation-enjoying gabber still trying to do the right thing. Watch his crazy adventures as he works and stumbles his way through the great world of public service in the Age of Fitzwalkerstan, while keeping tabs on Bucky Badger and the next Great Depression. I'm told I'm big in Oshkosh.